I have been entertaining similar conversations with my kids and fielding endless questions along the same lines. Yogendra Yadav’s advice on how to “Watch the US elections like an outsider. ” With philosophical detachment. Am trying my best to accept this verdict with equanimity. I think that the scariest thing that has been revealed to me is the number of Trump supporters exist within my circle of friends and acquaintances itself
Thank you Pallavi, and please congratulate your son for his premonition. I think the results show Americans may not like Trump but they like his policies; Kamala is nicer but has no policies
yes, ewmocracy which is about political equality alone was a great place to begin from..in times when power was concentrated in the hands of the powerful and the privileged. Then the assumption was that everyone should have a slice of the cake. Now everyone has access to a slice of the cake.. assuming that the cake symbolism the right to vote... there has been no corresponding shift in social, economic or cultural spaces or any estsblishment of parity. Most change has been minimal and oftentimes cosmetic. How do we engage with this?
It is all well and good trying to understand peoples’s opinions and poetry such. As a person living in the US, a multi-polar world is a good thing, but, not, the way it’s way it’s currently done. If the question is democracy itself, as opposed to strongman leadership, well, good luck to the people who think so. I’d argue that transparency is what is required, but that’s also a pipe dream. As a citizen of india, I cannot stand the regime (central, local too), as a resident of the US I cannot stand the regime as well, especially the incoming. Equivocating is giving power to the already powerful I’d say.
Any system where one person represents many people is bound to leave the "represented" upset/angry/cynical/frustrated. Think of the person in your building who is supposed to take care of managing the residents interests and how everyone hates him/her.
In a representative system one person is elected to represent the needs and opinions of a few hundred thousand imagine the frustration they would have with that person. In a non-representative system it's 1 person who knows what everyone needs. Just imagine the cynicism that would be felt by those folks.
This is such an interesting topic especially since it has “been in our faces” for the past few months. While we were in the USA over summer we heard from friends there and in particular those from a small town in Alabama. The wife espoused only hateful trump like rhetoric while the husband was clear….. I don’t like who he is but I prefer his policies. I believe that many people voted through their pockets……. They benefited financially when trump first came to power and they assume that this will continue in his second stint. I am an emotional being so my feelings dictate my choice in many things. If I had him in my hand of cards I would be deeply grateful……. May there be peace in the world
I don't know. I have asked, blubbered at dining tables, indulged in palm face diatribes, tried thinking dispassionately without getting my knickers in a twist, have belaboured human illogic and rationale, became a neo-female spouter of wisdom like Krishna advocating whatever he was to Arjun...nah! Nyet! Zilch! I don't know. There is really something deeply wrong with all of us. As a race we are damaged beyond redemption - only a flying meteor on 100% collision course could redeem us. I don't know! (Sobbing at my own incompetence at not arriving at an answer however complicated it may be).
As someone coming from a country where Silvio Berlusconi was elected more than once (they are also going to rename Milan's international airport after him) I'm not surprised at all about Trump's victory.
I have been entertaining similar conversations with my kids and fielding endless questions along the same lines. Yogendra Yadav’s advice on how to “Watch the US elections like an outsider. ” With philosophical detachment. Am trying my best to accept this verdict with equanimity. I think that the scariest thing that has been revealed to me is the number of Trump supporters exist within my circle of friends and acquaintances itself
Thank you Pallavi, and please congratulate your son for his premonition. I think the results show Americans may not like Trump but they like his policies; Kamala is nicer but has no policies
Good question, but what is the alternative? And in my old age, I see it all going in cycles
yes, ewmocracy which is about political equality alone was a great place to begin from..in times when power was concentrated in the hands of the powerful and the privileged. Then the assumption was that everyone should have a slice of the cake. Now everyone has access to a slice of the cake.. assuming that the cake symbolism the right to vote... there has been no corresponding shift in social, economic or cultural spaces or any estsblishment of parity. Most change has been minimal and oftentimes cosmetic. How do we engage with this?
It is all well and good trying to understand peoples’s opinions and poetry such. As a person living in the US, a multi-polar world is a good thing, but, not, the way it’s way it’s currently done. If the question is democracy itself, as opposed to strongman leadership, well, good luck to the people who think so. I’d argue that transparency is what is required, but that’s also a pipe dream. As a citizen of india, I cannot stand the regime (central, local too), as a resident of the US I cannot stand the regime as well, especially the incoming. Equivocating is giving power to the already powerful I’d say.
True
Any system where one person represents many people is bound to leave the "represented" upset/angry/cynical/frustrated. Think of the person in your building who is supposed to take care of managing the residents interests and how everyone hates him/her.
In a representative system one person is elected to represent the needs and opinions of a few hundred thousand imagine the frustration they would have with that person. In a non-representative system it's 1 person who knows what everyone needs. Just imagine the cynicism that would be felt by those folks.
This is such an interesting topic especially since it has “been in our faces” for the past few months. While we were in the USA over summer we heard from friends there and in particular those from a small town in Alabama. The wife espoused only hateful trump like rhetoric while the husband was clear….. I don’t like who he is but I prefer his policies. I believe that many people voted through their pockets……. They benefited financially when trump first came to power and they assume that this will continue in his second stint. I am an emotional being so my feelings dictate my choice in many things. If I had him in my hand of cards I would be deeply grateful……. May there be peace in the world
I don't know. I have asked, blubbered at dining tables, indulged in palm face diatribes, tried thinking dispassionately without getting my knickers in a twist, have belaboured human illogic and rationale, became a neo-female spouter of wisdom like Krishna advocating whatever he was to Arjun...nah! Nyet! Zilch! I don't know. There is really something deeply wrong with all of us. As a race we are damaged beyond redemption - only a flying meteor on 100% collision course could redeem us. I don't know! (Sobbing at my own incompetence at not arriving at an answer however complicated it may be).
As someone coming from a country where Silvio Berlusconi was elected more than once (they are also going to rename Milan's international airport after him) I'm not surprised at all about Trump's victory.